Table



1933- G. F. CORDUAN 4 1,923,067

TABLE Filed Sept. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Imfenifir' I 629754 I Qrdzzazz g g ,A Y

of HOT- 2 Aug. 22, 1933. CORDUAN 1,923,067

TABLE Filed Sept. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 203 W 26 a?" l a:

g ff 1/ Z 25 mmanuw) 1 z/ 19 J T 4 20 T InJentoT 2! 2 film/5%]? biz/21022 FF 24,4 WM

Patented Aug. 22, 1933 TABLE Gustave F. Corduan, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Corduan Manufacturing Company,

Chicago,

Ill., a Corporation of Illinois Application September 28, 1931 Serial No. 565,602

12 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tables, and more particularly to improvements in the type of small table provided with folding legs adapted for use as a 5 card table, or for similar purposes.

More specifically the invention relates to a table of this type that is constructed almost entirely of sheet metal, with the exception of the flat table top which may be constructed wholly or in part of fibrous material so as to have sounddeadening properties, and which may be provided with any suitable form of upper surface covering, either ornamental or otherwise, and which may be water-proofed if desired. The invention is more particularly concerned with an improved means for securing the table top to the metallic supporting frame. The table top, which may be separately constructed or assembled and is of simple rectangular form rests flat-wise on the metallic frame and is held in place by a channeled sheet metal edge binding strip so as to completely conceal the edges of the table top, both at the upper and lower surfaces, so as to provide a substantially smooth and unbroken upper surface, and so as to hold the table top firmly and rigidly in position.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved table construction such as brief ly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide an improved form of top construction for a metallic card table.

' Another object is to provide an improved means for securing the top covering to the metallic supporting frame of a card table.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of certain approved examples of table construction involving the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the table in erected position.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table with three of the legs folded and one leg in extended position at right angles to the table top.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through one comer of the table.

' Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one comer of the table, parts being broken away to show the inner construction.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through one upper edge portion of the table.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a different form of table top.

The construction of the lower portion of the table, including the top-supporting frame and the foldable legs, is much the same as the construction disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Burlin and Corduan, Serial No. 317,407, filed November 5, 1928. The table comprises a plurality of similar pressed metal parts which are assembled symmetrically to form the completed table. These parts comprise corner pieces A, legs B, struts or braces C, and locking means D. An assembly consisting of the parts A, B, C and D constitute a corner unit adapted to support one comer of the table top. The comer supporting units just described are connected by an upper frame consisting of comer frame members E and side frame members F of similar construction, and diagonally extending cross beams or trusses G. The top H is secured to and supported by the frame members A, E, F, and G in the improved manner hereinafter described. All of the parts are made of sheet metal or pressed metal, with the exception of the table top H which may be made wholly or in part of other materials as hereinafter described.

Each corner piece A is formed of a single stamping of comparatively heavy sheet metal, in the general form of a right triangle so as to fit under one comer of the table. The outer corner or right angle of this member may be rounded or cut away as indica d at 1 to provide a more pleasing appearance. The main upper portion 2 on the comer piece A is flat to contact with and help support the table top H, but suitable downwardly extending ribs or corrugations 3 are provided to stiffen and strengthen the member. Vertical flanges 4 and 5 extend downwardly from the outer corner and side edges of the member A, to which the side frames E and F hereinafter described are attached. Hinge lugs 6, 7 and 8 are struck downwardly from the material of the comer piece, the leg B being pivotally secured at its upper end to the lug 6 by means of a pin or rivet 9, and the upper ends of the struts C being pivoted at 10 to the respective lugs 7 and 8. It may be here noted that the hinge lugs 6, 7 and 8 are slightly offset to one side of the center line of each comer piece so that the diagonally opposite legs, when folded as shown in Fig. 2, will miss one another and form a more compact construction.

Each leg B is preferably bent or stamped from a strip of heavy sheet metal, the main lower portion of the leg having a hollow tubular form to slidably receive the inner portion of member 11 having a portion 12 extending out through the slot 18 in the inner side of the leg, the lower ends of the two struts C being pivotally attached to members 12 at 14. The spring-actuated locking members D are pivotally mounted on the inner sides of the legs B and are adapted to engage the slide members 11 when the legs are in erected position (as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4) so that the struts C will hold the legs against folding inwardly. The locking member D may be released by means of a finger-piece 15 extending around the leg to the outer side thereof. All of this leg construction and the locking means therefor may be substantially as disclosed in the Burlin and Corduan application hereinabove referred to, or as disclosed in the copending application of Corduan, Serial No. 486,170, filed October 3, 1930.

Diagonally opposite comer pieces A are connected by a pair of beams or trusses G, preferably spot welded at their ends to the corner pieces. Each member G is preferably in the form ofan inverted sheet metalchannel comprising an upper horizontal portion 16 and downwardly extending side flanges 17, the table top H resting on the upper portion 16. Where the two pairs of channel beams G cross one another, as indicated at 18 in Fig. 2, one of the beams is bent downwardly to bridge the other beam, and the parts may be spot welded or otherwise secured together at these points.

The side frame members E and 1" each have substantially the same vertical cross section, having flat vertically extending. central portions 19 which are secured, as by spot welding, to the vertical flanges 4 and 5 of corner pieces A. The side frame members E and F abut one another at their ends (as perhaps best shown in Fig. 4) so as to form a continuous side frame of similar vertical section extending entirely around the sides and comers of the table top.

At its lower edge, each side frame member is bent outwardly and downwardly at 20, then inwardly and downwardly at 21, so as to form an outwardly extending rib or shoulder 22, the member then extending inwardly at 23 and upwardly at 24. This provides a rigid and ornamental lower edge to the side frame, having a flat lower surface 23 with no sharp exposed edges to be engaged by the hands of those liftingthe table, or by the legs of a person seated at the table. In a similar manner, the upper edge portion of the side frame is bent outwardly and upwardly at 25, then inwardly and upwardly at 26 to form an outer rib or shoulder 27, and then horizontally inward at 28 to form a flange for supporting the "edge portions of table top H.- It will be understood that the several metallicparts are so bent and assembled that the upper surfaces of horizontal flanges 28 of the side frame, the upper surface 2 of corner piece A, and the upper surfaces 18of the cross beams G, will all lie substantially porting frame. The upper surface of this board 29 may be waterproofed as indicated at 30,'or a separate covering of waterproofed or other material may be secured thereto. Of course the upper surface of this table top may be omamented in any desired manner. Preferably a groove or depressed portion 31 is rolled or pressed into the upper surface of sheet 29 adjacent the side edges thereof.

A binding strip 32 of comparatively thin sheet metal extends around the upper outer edge of the table for holding the top H in position. This binding strip may be made in a convenient number of sections, preferably overlapped at their ends, and is of channel form comprising a main central portion which rests against the upwardly and inwardly extending portion 26 of the side frame and which is secured thereto at intervals by means of rivets 33 or other suitable attaching means. The channel strip 32 has a lower inwardly and downwardly extending flange 34 which engages under the shoulder 27, and an upper flange 35 which engages over the edge portion of table top H. Preferably this flange 35 extends inwardly and downwardly at a slight angle so that the upper outer edge 36 will be substantially in the plane of the upper surface 30 of the table top, and the inner edge 37 will extend downwardly into the groove 31 formed in the table top. This will provide a substantially smooth upper surface, and will also serve to securely lock the table top H in position.

The table top H as shown in Fig. 5 is of an extremely light and economical construction, and will effectively prevent the objectionable sounds resulting from a metallic table top resting on the metallic supporting members. This fibrous top covering also deadens or prevents sounds caused by depositing hard objects on the table top.

A somewhat more elaborate and stronger form of table top is shown in Fig. 6. In this construction the modified table top H comprises a lower sheet 38 of paste-board or other fibrous material which rests directly upon the metal supporting surfaces of the members A, E, F, and G, and functions as a muffler-board to prevent metallic noises. A rather thin sheet metal plate 39 rests on the fibrous plate 38, this sheet 39 being of somewhat greater area and extending downwardly and then outwardly as indicated at 40 beyond the edges of pasteboard sheet 38 so as to form a groove or depression in the upper edge portions of the top, similar to the groove 31 shown in Fig. 5. A pad 41 is placed on top of the metal plate 39 and over this pad is superposed .an upper covering 42 of fabric or any other suitable flexible material, the edge portions of this flexible covering being bent around the outer edges of the sheet metal plate and secured thereto in any suitable manner as indicated at 43. The inwardly extending flange 35 of the binding. strip 32 extends over the edge of this covering and presses downwardly into the grooved or depressed edge portion thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 and in exactly the same manner as with the flrst described form of table top.

It will be noted that with either form of table top there are no exposed edges of any portion of the top, either above or below the table, and a substantially smooth and continuous top surface is provided with no objectionable grooves or spaces adjacent the edges of the table.

This construction is very simple and economical, and provides a table of pleasing appearance and of remarkably. light weight, considering the fact that the table is constructed almost entirely of metaland is of very strong and rigid construction. The flbrous top 29 shown in Fig. 5, or the muiiler board 38 shown in Fig.6, serve to eliminate objectionable noises caused by contact; ing metals.

The means here disclosed for mounting the foldable legs and securing the table top in position permits the top to be given almost any desired contour, the octagonal shape here shown. formed by removing the corners of a square, being pleasing to the eye and very practicable in use since the objectionable sharp corners of the ordinary square table are eliminated.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a top supporting frame including sheet metal side frame members having substantially vertically extending portions and upper horizontal flanges, a substantially flat tabletop adapted to rest with its edge portions on the horizontal flanges. said top comprising a lower sheet of fibrous sound-deadening material, a superposed sheet-metal plate having its edges extending somewhat beyond the edges of the lower sheet and deflected downwardly to form a groove in the top adjacent the edges thereof and a cover of flexible material secured over the sheet metal plate and having its edge portions folded inwardly over the edges of the plate, and a channelled metal binding strip secured over the upper outer edges of the frame members and having a flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and engaging in the groove. 2. A table comprising a top-supporting frame including sheet-metal side frame members having substantially vertical portions and deflected outwardly and then inwardly at the upper edges so as to form an outwardly extending shoulder and an inwardly extending horizontal supporting flange, a substantially flat table top adapted to rest with its edge portions on the horizontal flanges, and a channelled metal binding strip secured to the side frame members and having a lower flange extending under the shoulder and an upper flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and binding same against the horizontal supportingflanges.

3. A table comprising a top-supporting frame including sheet-metal side frame members having substantially vertical portions and deflected outwardly and then inwardly at the upper edges so as to form an outwardly extending shoulder and an inwardly extending horizontal supporting flange, a substantially flat table top adapted to rest with its edge portions on the horizontal flanges, and having a depressed groove in its upper surface adjacent the edges thereof, and a channelled metal binding strip secured to the side frame members and having a lower flange extending under the shoulder and an upper flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and engaging in the groove.

I 4. A table comprising a top-supporting frame including sheet-metal side frame members having substantially vertical portions and deflected outwardly and then inwardly at the upper edges so as to form an outwardly extending shoulder and an inwardly extending horizontal supporting flange, crossed beams connecting the side frames and having their flat upper surfaces in substantially the same plane as the horizontal flanges of the side frames, a substantially flat table top resting on the horizontal flanges and beams, and a channelled metal binding strip secured to the side frame members and having a lower flange extending under the shoulder and an upper flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and binding same against the horizontal flanges. 1

5. A table comprising a top-supporting frame including sheet-metal side frame members having substantially vertical portions and deflected outwardly and then inwardly at the upper edges so as to form an outwardly extending shoulder and an inwardly extending horizontal supporting flange, crossed beams connecting the side frames and having their flat upper surfaces in substantially the same plane as the horizontal flanges of the side frames, a substantially flat table topresting on the horizontal flanges and beams, and having a depressed groove in its upper surface adjacent the edges thereof, and a channelled metal binding strip secured to the side frame members and having a lower flange extending under the shoulder and an upper flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and engaging in the groove.

6. A.tab1e comprising a top-supporting frame including sheet-metal side frame members having substantially vertical portions and deflected outwardly and then inwardly at the upper edges so as to form an outwardly extending shoulder and an inwardly extending horizontal supporting flange, crossed beams connecting the side frames and having their flat upper surfaces in substantially the same plane as the horizontal flanges of theside frames, a substantially flat table top resting on the horizontal flanges and beams, said top comprising a lower sheet of flbrous sounddeadening material, a superposed sheet-metal plate having its edges extending beyond the edges of the lower sheet and deflected downwardly to form a groove-in'the top adjacent the edges thereof and a cover of flexible material secured over the sheet-metal plate and having its edge portions folded inwardly over the edges of the plate, and a channelled metal binding strip secured to the side frames and having a lower flange extending under the shoulder, and an upper flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and engaging in the groove.

7. A table comprising a substantially rectangular top-supporting frame including pressed metal comer pieces having substantially flat upper topsupporting surfaces and downwardly extending vertical flanges at their outer edges, legs secured to the comer-pieces, crossed beams connecting diagonally opposite corner-pieces and having horizontal upper top-supporting surfaces, sheet metal side frame members extending around the four sides and corners of the table and having vertically extending portions secured to the vertical flanges of the comer-pieces, the side frames having upper horizontal top-supporting flanges, a substantially flat table top resting on the horizontal flanges, corner pieces and beams, and a channelled metal binding strip secured to the upper outer edge portions of the side frames and having a flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and binding same against the horizontal supporting flanges.

8. A table comprising a substantially rectangular top-supporting frame including pressed metal comer-pieces having substantially flat upper topsupporting surfaces and downwardly extending vertical flanges at their outer edges, legs secured to the comer-pieces, crossed beams connecting diagonally opposite comer-pieces and having horizontal upper top-supporting surfaces, sheet metal side frame members extending around the four sides and corners of the table and having vertically extending portions secured to the vertical flanges of the corner-pieces, the side frames having upper horizontal top-supporting flanges, a substantially flat table top resting or; the horizontal flanges, corner-pieces and beams, and having a depressed groove in its upper surface adjacent the edges thereof, and a channelled metal binding strip secured over the upper outer edges of the side frame members and having a flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and engaging in the groove.

9. A table comprising a substantially rectangular top-supporting frame including pressed metal corner-pieces having substantially flat upper topsupporting surfaces and downwardly extending vertical flanges at their outer edges, legs secured to the corner-pieces, crossed beams connecting diagonally opposite corner-pieces and having horizontal upper top-supporting surfaces, sheet metal side frame members extending around the four sides and corners of the table and having vertically extending portions secured to the vertical flanges of the corner pieces, the side frames having upper horizontal top-supporting flanges, a substantially flat table top resting on the horizontal flanges, corner-pieces and beams, and a channelled metal binding strip secured to the upper outer edge portions of the side frames and having a flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and binding same against the horizontal supporting flanges.

10. A table comprising a substantially rectangular top-supporting frame including pressed metal corner-pieces having substantially flat upper top-supporting surfaces and downwardly extending vertical 'fianges at their outer edges, legs secured to the corner-pieces, crossed beams connecting diagonally opposite corner-pieces and having horizontal upper top-supporting surfaces, sheet metal side frame members extending around the four sides and corners of the table and having vertically extending portions secured to the vertical flanges of the corner-pieces, the side frames having upper horizontal top-supporting flanges, a substantially flat table top resting on the horizontal flanges, corner-pieces and beams, said top comprising a lower sheet of fibrous sound deadening material, a superposed sheet-metal plate having its edges extending somewhat beyond the edges of the lower sheet and deflected downwardly to form a groove in the top adjacent the edges thereof and a cover of flexible material secured over the sheet-metal plate and having its edge portions folded inwardly over the edges of the plate, and a channelled metal binding strip secured over the upper outer edges of the frame members and having a flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and engaging in the groove.

11. A table comprising a substantially rectangular top-supporting frame including pressed metal corner-pieces having substantially flat upper top-supporting surfaces and downwardly extending vertical flanges at their outer edges, folding legs pivotally secured to the corner-pieces, crossed beams connecting diagonally opposite corner-pieces and having horizontal upper topsupporting surfaces, sheet metal side frame members extending around the four sides and comers of the table and having vertically extending portions secured to the vertical flanges of the corner-pieces, the side frames having upper horizontal top-supporting flanges, a substantially flat table top resting on the horizontal flanges, corner-pieces and beams, and a channelled metal binding strip secured to the upper outer edge portions of the side frames and having a flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and binding same against the horizontal supporting flanges.

12. A table comprising a substantially rectangular top-supporting frame including pressed metal corner-pieces having substantially flat upper top-supporting surfaces and downwardly extending vertical flanges at their outer edges, folding legs pivotally secured to the comer-pieces, crossed beams connecting diagonally opposite corner-pieces and having horizontal upper topsupporting surfaces, sheet metal side frame members extending around the four sides and corners of the table and having vertically extending portions secured to the vertical flanges of the cornerpieces, the side frames having upper horizontal top-supporting flanges, a substantially flat table top resting on the horizontal flanges, cornerpieces and beams, and having a depressed groove in its upper surface adjacent the edges thereof, and a channelled metal binding strip secured over the upper outer edges of the side frame members and having a flange extending inwardly over the edge portions of the top and engaging in the groove.

GUSTAVE F. CORDUAN. 

